Tachibanaya

My favorite place to relax was the seating area beside the central garden. The room price was very reasonable, and I left feeling it was one of the best-value stays I've had. The old village has a lovely atmosphere, and although the parking lot is about 300 meters away, the walk is manageable. The hotel has a beautiful garden in the middle and a foot bath out front. Inside, everything is traditional Japanese style, including the authentic rooms. While we were at dinner, staff laid out our futon, which made the stay feel special and very traditional. The meals weren't luxurious, but breakfast and dinner tasted good and came in generous portions. We were full and satisfied. Some staff spoke very good English, which helped, and the shop had a good range of products.

The garden landscape is beautiful, and the service was excellent. The onsen was clean and well looked after, though its scenery wasn't much to look at and the water may feel too hot for some. Rei on the staff did her best to explain things in simple English and was very helpful.

The room was spotless, and my first onsen experience was a good one. Breakfast was amazing.

We felt looked after the whole time, with staff going out of their way for us. Our Japanese isn't very good, so we struggled to communicate with most of the team, but two English-speaking staff members were especially friendly. The hotel was immaculate throughout, and the lounge had a really relaxed feel. From our Annex suite we looked out over a lovely Japanese garden and koi pond. The private onsen was basically a bathtub with a big window, but it was still nice for two. We wore the yukata they provide around the hotel and the surrounding Atsumi area, which really made it feel like vacation. Dinner tasted great and was filling. We chose the Yonezawa beef plan, though we expected more dishes without beef to balance its richness. The dishes arrived at scattered times and didn't follow the menu order, which left me a bit confused. At checkout, they even took a photo of us and printed it.